Casting apparatus.



E. C. WASHBURN..

CASTING APPARATUS.

. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2|, l912r I 1,235,744. Patented Aug. 7,1917.

I I IFIVEHTOR I eflicient process foroasting materials wherewlth each other to form thereby sulta-ble .nnwm c. WASHBURN, or ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

- CASTING APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN C. WASHBURN, a citizen'of the United States, residing at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting 'Apparatus, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, such as will en; able others skilled in the art to which it api pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to casting and with respect to its more specific -features,'to a casting apparatus adapted for use in castin of various kinds.

%)ne of the objects of the invention is to provide a practical device of the kind described which shall insure a highly homo-- geneous product.

Anotherobject of the invention'is to provide a simple and efiicient device of the kind described which shall substantially prevent piping and control any segregation in the resultant product.

- Another object is, to provide a practical and efficient vacuum heat-insulating device which may be readily applied to various molds. I v

Another object is to provide a practical and by a highly useful product is obtained.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out he reinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the several features of construction, combinations of elefi iints and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the method I Specification of Letters Patent.

the upper end (if the chamber is a preferably Patented Aug. 7, 1917. Application fl1edMarch21, 1912. v Spria1No. 685,158. v

removable heating-insulating device which comprises a 'substantiall cylindrical casing 3, which is provided on 1ts bottom face with an annular recessl i which is situated adjaing. A corresponding annular recess 5 is formed in the upper end face of the tubular cent the outer curved periphery of the caschamber and when thelcasing is placed in position the grooves 4 and 5 coincide. Sealing material such as moistened cla'y 6, or

the like, is placed in the recess and servesto' make a tight joint between the heat-insulatin device and the tubular chamber.

he casing 3 comprises three concentric, spaced, .annular, wall members, the outer annular member or ring designated as 7 the intermediate ring as 8 and the inner ring as 9. Each of these rings is .tapered slightly from the bottom to the upper portion thereof. Between these rings are formed three concentric chambers, the outer chamber being designated as 10, the intermediate as 11 and theinner as 12. The chamber 10 is preferably non-communicative with the chambers 11 and 12 and its outer wall forms the hereinafter disclosed and. the construction,

hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of each ofwhich will'be indi I Figure 1 represents a sectional 'side elevation taken on'the line ww of Fig. 2, showv ing a ingot in position" 3 Fig? 2 represents a plan view of .the device, parts being broken away to show the I j ada ted tocommunicatewlth theimterior of Q the chamber 1.

under structure. Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts in both views of the drawing;

' Referring now more partlcularly to the drawing, 1 represents an upright tubular chamber preferably of octagon shape in cross-section; and provided -with tapering outer wallof the casing. Chambers 11 and 12 are, however, adapted to communicate passageways as will be hereinafter described. Passageway 11 is provlded with two preferably diametrically opposite radial channels 13 and 14 which' are disposed substantially at right angles to the passageway 11 and which pass through the walls 7 and 8 ad'acent the bottom of the casing. The chamber 10 is preferably evacuated and thereby forms a highly eflicient and ,practical heat-insulating portion adjacent the outer periphery of the casing. The passage way 12 is preferably of greater area than either of the other chambers 10 and 11 and. is substantially cylindrical in outline .as opposed to the chambers 10 and 11, which are,

.as shown in this embodiment, annular.

When :in position the passageway 12 is A cap 15 is adapted to upper end face of the casing 3, and its outer periphery preferably lies within the outer periphery of the casing, and-in this embodi ment over-spreads the passageways 11 and be placed upon the .Its outer edge rests on' the face of the casing immediately above the intermediate wall 8. J

The cap as shown is removable from the remainder of the caslng and is provided casing when the cap is in proper position upon'the end of the casing.

Passing through the cap, in substantially radial lines are preferably cylindrical channels 2O spaced about the cap. These passageways originate at and communicate with the inner cylindrical chamber 18 and conforming in general outline to the outer periphery of the cap they emerge in the lower face thereof at orifices 21. These orifices whenthe cap is positioned on the end of the casing are adapted to register and communicafe with substantially cylindrical ducts 22- which are substantially vertically disposed and pass into various parts of the chamber 11, through the upper wall. thereof, thus providing communication between passageways 11 .and 12 through channel 20 and cylindrical chamber 18.

- In normal use thepassageway 1-1, which v adjoins the evacuated chamber 10,- is adapt- ,ed to contain heating gases and topermit their circulation tlierethrough and their discharge into the open airthrough the channels 13 and 14:, thus providing an insulating belt of heated gases. The inner wall 9, which adjoins thepassageway 11, also acts as a heat-insulating member beingcfimpose'd of a refractory material, preferably baked sand, and thesand is adapted to be held inplace by a surrounding annular casing 23, preferably of iron,- which is provided with. a bulge24. This bulge is adapted to aid in holding the sand-in position. The inner periphery of the wall 9 is preferably provided with a coating of carbonaceous material, preferably graphite 25.

The wall 9is' of less depthothan the other two. walls -7 and 8,. thereby providing a shoulder 26 which is adapted to receive an annular plate 27 of clay or other' refractory material resting upon the upper face of the chamber 1. The plate 27 is provided with a flared aperture 28 which is of slightly less diameter than the passageway 12 and is adapted to guide material into chamber 1. Carbon, graphite or similar substances 29 may be sprinkled about the junction of the plate 27 and the all 9.

In the use of the apparatus the heat-insulating device is grasped by the handles 30 provided'on either side of the casing and placed in position upon the top face of the chamber 1, the recesses 4: and 5 having been previously lutedJ The cap 16 is then removed from the casing and molten material such as steel or other metal to be used in" casting is poured into the chamber 1 through the passageway 12, being guided .in its direction by means of the aperture 28 in the plate 27 in such ma ner that there is little, if any, contact of t e metal stream with the sides of the chamber. The tapered casing having been substantially filled with metal up to the upper ,end face of the wall 9, the cap is placed in position upon the end of the casing, the cover is removed and a suitable quantity of graphite or other similarmaterial 31 is placed on the upper face ofv the metal about the orifice 19. The cover is then'replaced and the metal allowed to cool. The graphite 29 and 31 will burn, thereby heating the metal in contact therewith and serving as heat insulators therefor, and evolve gases which will pass upward through the channels 20 and passageway 11, thus passing about the upper portion of the metal and through the channels 13 and lfl'to the outer air. Also any gases passing from the metal will follow this same course and thus a flow 9f heating medium will be provided through the passage- Way 11, serving as a heat-insulating blanket. It is to'be noted that'it is preferable to use a quiet steel in using the carbonaceous material inorder that there may be no boiling or movement to displace the carbonaceous materlalf A quiet steelmay be produced by addition of silicon or other similar material to the steel.

During the cooling of the metal there will be a tendency of the outer parts of the materialbeing cast and those' parts exposed to mediums which in themselves are not heat-insulating to cool more quickly than the inner portions of the material and those portions which are surrounded by heat-insulating devices. .On account of the heat-insulating' members, including the evacuated chamber, the passageway for heating gases which are evolved from the metal and the refractory'member, which are ,about the upper end of the metal in the passageway 12, the rate of radiation from 'this'portion of the metal will be very small, in fact, almost negligible, so that there will be a tendency to preserve the temperature of this metal at a point substantially higher than the temperature of other parts of the metal. By thus keeping the upper portion of the metal hot as the central portions below it cool, there will be a tendency in the particles ofv the metal to work downwardly and as this action takes place there will be a continuous feed of heated metal from the chamber 12 and the whole interior portion of the ingot Will 0001 substantially uniformly and in such manner that there will be a substantially equal contraction therethrough. In this way the undesirable phenomena of piping and other evils due to similar causes will be substantially overcome. For example, in the casting'of steel ingots there is a tendency to segregation of impurities such as slag, phosphorus, silicon and sulphur, which segregations are mostundesirable and tend to follow the line of slowest cooling- By means. of the present apparatus it is found that these segregations gradually work themselves to the top of the metal and collect in that portion thereof adjacent the heat-insulating device. The resultant product instead of showing pipes and segregations will have only, a: small cupped neck portion in which most of the impurities are segregated and which may be broken off with very little loss of metal.

In actual practice ingots have been ob tained in which the proportion of metal forming the cup, including impurities, is

' very small and in these ingots piping is practically absent. After the metal has cooled the heat-insulating device may be re- -moved therefrom by lifting it by means of the handles and the apparatus may then be set up for use upon another molding device. 7 It is to be noted in accordance with the above construction that there will be sub-- stantially no flaking on the sides of the finished. ingot or other casting in view of the fact that the metal in being poured into the chamber 1 is guided by means of the plate 27 and; since the stream does not contact with the sidesp'substantially no opportunity is" gven for sudden cooling of small. quan'-, tities of metal on the sides with resultant flake. I I It is to be understood that the term cast,-

ing is herein employed in its broad sense as indicating the treatment of molten mas terial by means of suitable devices'to give it a desired shape. It will thus be seen that according to the above, the'objects enumerated, among others, are completely and conclusively fulfilled.

As many changes could. be made in carry I iny out the above method, and in'the above and many apparently widely, different embodiments of. this invention construction,

invention, which, as a matter of. language mi ht be said to fall therebetweenaving, described my invention, what I claim asnew and desire'to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A casting device, including a molding chamber and a heat insulating device comprising an inner chamber and a passageway situated next thereto and adapted to receive heating gases from said inner chamber.

2. A casting device, includiyhg a molding chamber and a heat insulating device comprising an inner chamber and an outerchamber, said inner chamber being adapted to communicate with said outer chamber, and means adapted to generate heating gases in said inner chamber, said gases being adapted to pass into said outer chamber. to thereby form an insulating medium about said inner chamber.

3. A casting device, including a molding chamber'and a heat insulating device comprising a casing provided with an inner chamber, an intermediate chamber and an outer chamber, means adapted to guide a heating medium from said inner chamber into said intermediate chamber, and means adapted to generate heat in said inner cham-v ber, said outer chamber being evacuated.

4. A casting deyice comprising a chamber and a heat insulating device comprising a plurality of chambers providing an evacuated portion and adapted topermit the circulation of a heating medium therethrough.

5. A casting device, comprising a tubular chamber, an annular insulating refractory member about one end of said chamber, a v passageway adapted to permit the passage ,of a heating medium therethrough, said passageway adjoining said member, and carbona ceous material adapted to provide heating gases withinsaid tubular chamber, said gases being adapted to flow through said passageway about said refractory member.

6. A casting device comprising an upright tubular member having'a heat insulating device composing one end'thereof, said device including an inner annular refractory member, an outer annular member concentric therewith and forming a passageway between saidrefractory member and itself and a removable cap provided with a channel adapted to furnish communication with said passageway. I

/ 7. A casting device comprising a 'passage- 'way. thereabout adapted to permit ,the flow of a heating medium therethrough and an evacuated portion.

8. A casting device comprising a chamber,

an annular evacuated chamber about said I25 first chamber and a passageway adapted to permit the flow of a heating medium therethrough, said passageway adjoining said second chamber.

9. A casting device comprising an. up-

providing joining said passageway.

10. A casting device comprising a cham-- ber, a refractory insulating member thereabout and a casing providing an evacuated chamberthereabout.

11. A casting device comprising a refractory insulating portion,-a passageway adapted to permit'the circulation of gases therethrough and an evacuated portion.

12. A casting device comprising a chamber, a refractory insulating member thereabout, a passageway adapted to permit the circulation of. a heating medium therethrou-gh, said passageway surrounding said refractory member and an evacuated chamber surrounding said refractory member and said passageway.

13. A casting device comprising an upright tubular chamber and a heat insulating device forming one end thereof, said heat-insulating device including a casing, an annular refractory insulating member within said casing, an annular evacuated chamber having one wall thereof forming the outer wall of said casing, formed between the outer wall of said refractory member and the inner wall of said evacuated chamber, said passageway being rovided with a portion communicating with the outside air, and a cap forming the upper portion of said casing and overspreading said refractory member and said passageway, said cap being-provided with a channel communicating with said passagey, channel and leading. into said chamber and a removable cover adapted to permit en trance to said cap.

14:. A casting device comprising a chamber, aheat insulating device located at one end thereof, said heat insulating device including-a casing provided with three annular concentric walls spaced. to provide an inner passageway and chamber therebetween, the" inner of said annular walls being composed of a refractory insulating material coated on its inner periphery with carbonaceous material and lined on its. outer periphery with metallic material, said inner wall being provided with a bulged portion adapted to aid in supporting said refractory member, said inner passageway being provided with an opening communicating with the outside air and adapted to permit the circulation of heating gases therethrough, said outer inclosed chamber beingevacuated, and a refractory plate provided with an opening adapted to a passageway an orifice communicating with said an outer inclosed direct material into said first chamber, said plate being disposed between the bottom of said casing and the end of said first chamber. i

15. A castin device comprising'a molding chamber and a removable'heat-insulating device, said heat-insulating device comprising a substantially cylindrical casing providedwith a removable cap, said cap being provided with a removable cover, and said casing including a plurality of passageways. s i

i 16. A casting device comprising an upright molding chamber and a removable heat insulating device, including a casing having three concentric rings providing a passageway and achamber therebetween, said passageway the circulation of the heating medium therethrough, said chamber being evacuated, a removable cap overspreading the inner one of said annular members and said passageway, said cap being provided with a channel passing therethrough communicating with said passageway, an orifice adapted to communicate with said molding chamber and with said channel and a removable cover in alinement with said orifice, and a recess on the bottom face of said casing adjacent the outer wall thereof, said recess being adapted to register with a corresponding recess on the upper face of said molding chamber, said recesses being provided with a sealing material resting therein.

17. Aheat insulating device comprising a refractory member, a passageway adapted to permit t e circulation of a heating medium theret rough and an evacuated portion.

' 18. A heat insulating device comprising a casing including a plurality of annular rings providing a plurality o chambers therebetween, one of said rings eing-composed of refractory material, two of said chambers-communicating with each other,

the'other of said chambers being evacuated.

being adapted topermit,

with a casing of metallic material on its outer periphery, said refractory member being provided with a'bulged portion, one of said chambers being adapted to permit the flow of a heating medium therethrough and communicating with another of. said chambers and with the outside air and another of said chambers being evacuated.

20. A heat insulating device comprising a casing provided with'a plurality of annular members providing passageways therebetween and a removable cap for said casing provided with a removable cover, an orifice in alinement therewith and a channel connnunicating with said orifice, said orifice communicating with one ofsaid passagewaysand with said channel, said cap being so positioned npon said casing'that said channel con-lnnmicates with another of said passageways, said last mentioned passageway being provided with communication with th outside air. v

21. A molding device comprising a molding chamber and ahead insulating device associated therewith, said heat insulating device comprising a plurality of spaced walls and a cap forming one end tlwreof, said cap being provided with a mssageway adapted to provide commnnicalion between the spaces provided between said walls.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature, in the presenceof two Witnos *s.

EDWIN '0. WASIIBURN.

Witnesses:

O. J. ,KULBERG, L. A. W'ATsoN. 

